Thursday, April 11, 2024
The renovation and expansion of 188 1st Ave.
Friday, September 27, 2019
A garden party tomorrow to help rebuild the East Side Outside Community Garden
[Photos from Sept. 20]
A sizable chunk of the East Side Outside Community Garden on 11th Street just east of First Avenue has been damaged during the post-fire work behind First Avenue.
In recent months, workers have accessed the garden space to gain entry to the rear of 188 First Ave., which suffered a major fire last October. While the structural stability of No. 188 was reportedly unaffected by the fire, the extension behind the permanently closed Uogashi needed to be removed.
Meanwhile, the garden is in poor shape as a result of the demolition work...
Tomorrow (Sept. 28), garden volunteers and other community members are coming together in support of East Side Outside at El Sol Brillante Garden, 522 E. 12th St. between Avenue A and Avenue B starting at noon (to dusk). Per the invite:
Come join us for food, drink, and raffle prizes from local businesses! Raffle will happen at 4 p.m. ... We are excited to announce that photographer David Croland has donated a beautiful portrait of Debbie Harry in her prime, for sale to benefit the garden!
East Side Outside Community Garden was partly destroyed in the aftermath of the October 2018 fire at 188 First Ave. We need to clean up and rebuild almost everything from scratch, and are trying to raise funds to help us reopen for the 2020 season.
East Side Outside Garden is a public community garden in the NYC Parks GreenThumb program. We offer green space and programs for community members and businesses, provide a learning lab for students at the adjacent schools, and operate a community composting program. Help us rebuild better and stronger!
There's also a crowdfunding campaign underway at this link.
The stone wall dating to the 1860s that lines the garden was also badly damaged during the work behind the First Avenue buildings. You can read more about that at the link below...
Previously on EV Grieve:
Cemetery wall knocked down during post-fire work behind 1st Avenue
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Cemetery wall knocked down during post-fire work behind 1st Avenue
A tipster points us to the East Side Outside Community Garden on 11th Street just east of First Avenue.
In recent months, workers have accessed the garden space to gain entry to the rear of 188 First Ave., which suffered a major fire last October.
While the structural stability of No. 188 was reportedly unaffected by the fire, the extension behind the permanently closed Uogashi needed to be removed.
Of concern to the tipster: The stone wall dating to the 1860s that lines the garden has been badly damaged during the work behind the First Avenue buildings...
Preservationists believe this is the western wall of a long-vanished cemetery.
[Map from 1867]
Here's what the wall looked like a few years ago...
The Village Preservation wrote about this cemetery back in 2013 (at the time, they were trying to spare part of the property from what became the luxury condoplex Steiner East Village).
While the cemetery opened in 1833, where the wall is located did not become the western boundary of the cemetery until the 1860s, and thus there may not have been a wall here prior to then. The cemetery remained on this site until 1909, so the wall also could have been built as late as the first years of the last century.
After the cemetery closed in 1909, the land was divided up and much of it sold. The eastern section became Mary Help of Christians Church (1917) and School (1925)
The school and church were demolished in 2013.
Monday, October 22, 2018
Demolishing the fire-damaged back extension at Uogashi, which appears to be permanently closed
EVG regular Lola Sáenz shared this photo from Saturday ... showing workers removing the fire-damaged structure occupied by Uogashi, the Japanese restaurant at 188 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.
Thankfully only the back extension needed to come down in the aftermath of the six-alarm fire in the early-morning hours of Oct. 3. DOB officials said that the rest of the five-story building was structurally sound.
The Uogashi website now lists "permanently closed" under their hours of operation. The Tree Bistro next door is still temporarily out of commission as well due to damage to their rear garden.
Officials said they believe the fire, which injured 17 people, including 14 firefighters, began in the restaurant. An exact cause has not been made public just yet.
Previously on EV Grieve:
A look at the fire-damaged Uogashi; plus video of when the fire started at 188 1st Ave.
Post-fire updates on 1st Avenue
Watch this drone footage of the fire at 188 1st Ave.
[Updating] Post fire, 1 lane of northbound traffic returns to 1st Avenue
[Updating] Report of injuries during major fire at 188 1st Ave.
Report: 188 1st Ave. survives fire; back extension must be demolished
Monday, October 8, 2018
Tree Bistro's back garden badly damaged in last week's 1st Avenue fire
The low-key Tree Bistro, known for its cozy backyard garden, has not been open since the early-morning fire last Wednesday.
EVG regular Lola Sáenz shared these photos from Saturday...
There is currently a partial vacate order at the address — issued for the rear yard, per the DOB.
To date, there isn't any message to patrons on the Tree Bistro website or Facebook page. Attempts to reach anyone at the restaurant weren't successful.
Report: 188 1st Ave. survives fire; back extension must be demolished
There were concerns about the future of 188 First Ave. after last week's 6-alarm fire. There was speculation that the fire-damaged five-story building might need to be demolished here between 11th Street and 12th Street.
However, city officials said that No. 188 withstood the blaze and won't need to come down.
As Patch reported:
Department of Buildings engineers "have determined that the structural stability of [the building] was unaffected by the fire," according to department spokesman Andrew Rudansky. The structure won't face the wrecking ball.
However, Rudansky said that the extension behind Uogashi will need to be removed...
[Photo on Oct. 3 by Hillary Johnson]
There are eight apartments in the building. Residents have been allowed back in to retrieve personal belongings, but No. 188 is still under a full vacate order, per the DOB.
Officials said they believe the fire, which injured 17 people, including 14 firefighters, began in the restaurant. An exact cause has not been determined.
Previously on EV Grieve:
A look at the fire-damaged Uogashi; plus video of when the fire started at 188 1st Ave.
Post-fire updates on 1st Avenue
Watch this drone footage of the fire at 188 1st Ave.
[Updating] Post fire, 1 lane of northbound traffic returns to 1st Avenue
[Updating] Report of injuries during major fire at 188 1st Ave.
Friday, October 5, 2018
A look at the fire-damaged Uogashi; plus video of when the fire started at 188 1st Ave.
[Photo by JK Clarke]
As you likely know, what would eventually be a six-alarm fire broke out in the early morning hours Wednesday at 188 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.
FDNY officials have said that they believe the blaze started on the ground floor, which is occupied by the sushi restaurant Uogashi.
As these photos by Steven yesterday show, Uogashi, which opened here in December 2016, sustained major damage...
[Photo of the damaged rear-portion of Uogashi by Hillary Johnson]
It's too early to know when, or if, the restaurant might return. Uogashi's website is currently offline, and their voice-message system is full. No. 188 remains under a full-vacate order.
The FDNY is continuing their investigation, and have not publicly announced the cause of the fire.
Meanwhile, EVG reader Hillary Johnson, who lives near 188 First Ave., shot this video showing the start of the fire just before 2 a.m. (Firefighters had already been called, and were en route to the scene.)
In the video, you can see that the rooftop ventilation fan on No. 188's setback is on fire.
In total, there were 17 reported injuries, including 14 firefighters. The victims mostly sustained minor injuries, according to published reports.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Post-fire updates on 1st Avenue
[Photo yesterday by Steven]
District 2 City Council member Carlina Rivera's office posted this information this morning on the state of affairs after yesterday's six-alarm fire at 188 First Ave.
Via Facebook:
Our thoughts remain with the residents affected by yesterday's fire in the East Village. Though the incident centered on 188 First Ave, adjacent buildings were evacuated as well. The blaze was persistent, smoldering into Wednesday evening. We thank our brave first responders for their work yesterday and in the days to come: New York City Fire Department (FDNY), NYPD 9th Precinct, the American Red Cross in Greater New York, Con Edison, and NYC Environmental Protection.
INJURIES
Thankfully, no fatalities or life-threatening injuries.
TENANTS
188 First Avenue remains vacated until further notice.
186 First Avenue is cleared for re-occupancy today.
190 First Avenue is cleared for re-occupancy today.
Landlords or the Red Cross have relocated most residents to hotels. Agencies are doing their best to get tenants back in their homes. If you still require emergency housing assistance, call the Red Cross at (212) 875-2301.
SCHOOLS AFFECTED
PS 19, East Side Community High School, and Girls Prep are all re-opened. Thanks to principals and staff for jumping into action, and to parents and students for their patience.
BUSINESSES
All businesses can re-enter their premises except for those located at 188 First Avenue. If you have a business on the block affected by the incident, please reach out to NYC SBS at (212) 618-8810.
TRAFFIC
Aside from emergency vehicles placed on the east side of the block, vehicular traffic has resumed on First Ave. All side streets will re-open today.
OTHER NOTES
Madina Masjid has reopened on a normal schedule; FDNY will keep one mobile unit at the scene until further notice; Thanks to NYC Emergency Management, New York City Council Staff, NYC SBS, DOE, DOB, NYC Mayor's Office, Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, state Senator Brad Hoylman and LES Ready - Long Term Recovery Group for their support; and special thanks to 14th Street Y for offering assistance from the get-go.
You can always call our office at 212-677-1077 with questions. We will continue to provide updates to residents and the community as needed.
Several readers/residents asked about any crowdfunding campaigns for the displaced residents. I haven't heard of any just yet.
And these photos from today via Steven show some business on the block between 11th Street and 12th Street back open, including Atomic Wings...
Previously on EV Grieve:
Watch this drone footage of the fire at 188 1st Ave.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
After the fire: A look at 188 1st Ave.
Here are several afternoon and early-evening photos from the fire scene at 188 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street.
The top photo via Lola Sáenz shows the building at 6:15 p.m.
And this is around 6 p.m. from Steven...
These photos are from 3 p.m. via EVG regular Daniel... showing the FDNY accessing the East Side Outside Community Garden on 11th Street to douse the rear of 188 with water...
EVG reader Hillary Johnson who lives nearby passed along this photo, taken around 6:45 a.m. looking out onto First Avenue...
... and this shot of firefighters surveying the damage to the rear of No. 188 is from 4 p.m. ...
To recap various published reports, the six-alarm fire broke out just before 2 a.m. at the five-story 188 First Ave.
Firefighters had the blaze mostly contained by 8 a.m. However, crews were still fighting flames into the early afternoon in a structure that had partially collapsed behind No. 188.
Here's a look at that structure from late this afternoon from Hillary Johnson...
Officials said they believe that the fire began inside Uogashi, the restaurant on the ground floor. No word on the cause just yet.
In total, there were 17 reported injuries, including 14 firefighters. None of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries.
According to ABC 7, three of the buildings that were evacuated will remain empty until the DOB checks the structural integrity. The Red Cross is housing 13 residents.
Watch this drone footage of the fire at 188 1st Ave.
[Drone photo this morning via Steven]
The FDNY has released drone footage from the overnight 6-alarm fire at 188 First Ave...
[Updating] Post fire, 1 lane of northbound traffic returns to 1st Avenue
After the overnight 6-alarm fire at 188 First Ave. between 11th Street and 12th Street... one northbound traffic lane has been reopened for vehicular traffic, per the NYPD.
• The MTA reports that the M15 bus won't make any local stops on First Avenue between St. Mark's Place and 13th Street.
• There are now a reported 17 injuries, which includes 14 firefighters. None of the injuries were deemed life-threatening.
As for No. 188 and surrounding buildings...
Update from inter agency meeting with @nycoem
— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) October 3, 2018
Northbound traffic on 1 Ave will remain closed until further notice, please avoid the are is possible.
3 Buildings have been evacuated and will remain empty until @NYCDOB checks the structure’s integrity. #EastVillage #NYC pic.twitter.com/W1jJwemVbg
Updated 2:45 p.m.
EVG reader dog shares this photo... apparently there has been a flare up, in the words of the NYPD, in the rear of No. 188...
And per the 9th Precinct....
There has been a small flare up in the rear of 188 1 Ave causing northbound vehicular traffic to once again be closed.@FDNY is still on scene https://t.co/niiL9TEbYY
— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) October 3, 2018
An estimated 20 FDNY trucks remain at the scene, per dwg.
[Updating] Report of injuries during major fire at 188 1st Ave.
[Photo via @academyrecords]
More than 200 firefighters have been battling a major overnight fire at 188 First Ave., a five-story building between 11th Street and 12th Street...[See below for updates — the fire is in the building's setback]
[Photo by Doug Singer]
First Avenue has been closed at Ninth Street for the FDNY equipment.
We'll continue to update as more information becomes available...
Update 1
Four firefighters and two residents were hurt in the five-alarm fire, ABC 7 reports. All of the injuries are said to be minor.
Per ABC:
The fire broke out on the first floor of a five-story apartment building on 1st Avenue just before 2 a.m.
Fire spread through the building quickly.
Update 2
NBC 4 states nine injuries, including seven firefighters — one of who was seriously injured.
No immediate cause for the fire, officials say.
--
The ground floor is occupied by Uogashi, the Japanese restaurant.
Update 3
The FDNY is calling this a 6-alarm fire now...
MAN 6-ALARM 188 1ST AVE, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE IN 1ST FLR SETBACK,
— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) October 3, 2018
Update 4
JUST IN: The FDNY recommends the DOE to close two nearby schools as they continue to battle a 'stubborn' fire in the East Village that has been burning for hours https://t.co/GUlz9rIaQO pic.twitter.com/POqwF5iXHK
— NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) October 3, 2018
Update 5 — 8 a.m.
The FDNY response is massive. Trucks stretch back to between Seventh Street and Sixth Street.
Here's an early morning photo via Lola Sáenz...
...and these are from the rear of the building taken from 12th Street via Steven...
... and from the front of the building...
Update 6
A view via KT...
Update 7 9 a.m.
More from ABC 7:
Flames spread to a small section of rear of the building, which partially collapsed and could safely not accessed by firefighters.
"Much of the roof on the first floor extension has burned away, but because of the collapse hazard we can't get in there. And that's the problem, why we can't put this fire out right now," Chief James Leonard, FDNY Chief of Department.
They poured water on the small section, waiting for the roof to collapse so they could fully extinguish it.
Until then, the smoldering section spewed heavy smoke that prompted firefighters to evacuate five adjacent buildings.
This aerial view shows the collapse in the structure behind the building... part of Uogashi?
The injured list is now reportedly at 14 — including 11 firefighters, mostly smoke for inhalation and heat exhaustion.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Red Cross is on the scene...
Update: @RedCross is located in a truck at below location. Ready to serve. https://t.co/5u7R2uzRNN
— Pedro Carrillo (@plazarillo) October 3, 2018
And no school here...
⚠️ Due to a 6-alarm fire nearby, two NYC Schools in Manhattan to close today, 10/3/2018: East Side Community High School and P.S. 19 Asher Levy. All students and staff are safe. There will be no classes, after school, or other activities at these schools today. [1/2]
— NYC Public Schools (@NYCSchools) October 3, 2018
Update 8
First Avenue will likely be closed for much of the day...
This will be a prolonged operation due to heavy construction and structural concerns of the building - #FDNY Chief of Department Leonard from the scene of the 6-alarm fire, 188 1 Ave. Manhattan
— FDNY (@FDNY) October 3, 2018
Update 9
EV FIRE UPDATE: Fire is contained at the rear of 188 1st Ave. @FDNY will be on standby indefinitely.
— Carlina Rivera 利華娜 (@CarlinaRivera) October 3, 2018
* Residents are safe, dozens of units evacuated
* No decision made for @NYCSchools tomorrow
* 14 people injured including firefighters
Next interagency meeting will be at 11am. pic.twitter.com/a2cHAOP8f6
Update 10 1:15 p.m.
#EastVillage Fire update.
— NYPD 9th Precinct (@NYPD9Pct) October 3, 2018
One Northbound traffic lane has been opened for vehicular traffic.
The M15 bus @MTA will NOT make any stops for pickup or drop off from St. Marks Place to East 13 Street. It will then proceed as normal. pic.twitter.com/3eqVktLjK5
The FDNY issued an under control just before 1 p.m. ...
MAN 6-ALARM 188 1ST AVE, MULTIPLE DWELLING FIRE IN 1ST FLR SETBACK, UNDER CONTROL
— FDNYalerts (@FDNYAlerts) October 3, 2018